Apex court to take final decision

Chamber Judge of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division on Sunday did not interfere in the High Court (HC) verdict that on June 5 declared illegal the government's decision of abolishing freedom fighter (FF) quota in class-one and class-two government jobs.
However, Chamber Judge Justice M Enayetur Rahim sent the petition, filed by the government seeking stay on the HC verdict, to the regular bench of the Appellate Division for hearing on July 4.
Following a writ petition, the HC bench of Justice K M Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat on June 5 declared illegal the government's decision that abolished freedom fighter quota in class-one and class-two government jobs.
Later, the government on Sunday filed a petition, seeking stay on the HC verdict.
Attorney General A M Amin Uddin appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the state, while Motahar Hossain Saju appeared for the writ petitioners.
Later, the attorney general said the government has jurisdiction to bring change in its policies any time. None can claim that anyone's rights have been violated as a result of the government's policy change, he added.
The government abolished all types of quota in class-one and class-two jobs in October 2018. The decision triggered protests by the descendants of freedom fighters, who had been enjoying 30 per cent quota in all government jobs.
In 2021, seven job-seekers, who were the descendents of freedom fighters, filed a writ petition challenging the government's decision that abolished freedom fighter quota in government jobs.
Upon hearing the petition, the HC in December 2021 issued a rule, asking the government to explain as to why the decision should not be declared illegal.
After hearing on the rule, the HC bench on June 5 this year declared the rule absolute.
UNB adds, at least 2,000 students from Dhaka University (DU) staged a protest on Sunday against the HC's decision to reinstate the quota system in government jobs.
Simultaneously, protests were held in Chittagong University (CU), Rajshahi University (RU), Jahangirnagar University (JU), and Jagannath University (JnU).
Barishal University (BU) students blocked Dhaka-Barishal Highway, disrupting traffic and causing sufferings to passengers. After the blockade, they brought out a procession on the highway, and held a protest rally in front of the administrative building.
In DU, the procession began at 11:00 am from the Central Library and concluded at the Raju Sculpture. Marching through the campus, the protesters shouted slogans, demanding to repeal the quota system in government jobs.
Mahin Sarkar, the rally's anchor, issued an ultimatum, demanding that the decision be reversed by June 30, warning that the movement would spread from campuses to the streets, if the demand is not met.
After concluding the rally, a student delegation submitted a memorandum to the attorney general, urging retraction of the HC's decision and reintroduction of the 2018 policy.
Fahim, a student of the English department, said, "The decision to reintroduce the quota system in the government jobs has destroyed hopes and dreams of the students, who aspire to advance the country with their talent."
Tamanna Akter, a student of the Institute of Modern Languages, called for a fair process that offers equal opportunity to all job seekers.
"Though I am a woman, I do not want female quota, as the quota system does not support meritocracy," she said.
Rifat Rashid, another student, highlighting the constitutional guarantees of equal rights, argued that the HC's decision contradicts these principles. "The students of this country will never accept such a discriminatory decision."

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